Markus Kaarma Sentenced To 70 Years In Prison For Killing Of German Exchange Student

LISA BAUMANN, Associated Press

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man has been sentenced to 70 years in prison, with no parole for at least 20 years, in the shotgun killing of a German exchange student who was trespassing in his garage.

Markus Kaarma was sentenced Thursday after a Missoula jury convicted him in December of deliberate homicide in the shooting of 17-year-old Diren Dede (DEER-in day-day).

The case caused an outcry in Germany and brought scrutiny to Montana's "castle doctrine" law that can allow the use of deadly force to protect home and family.

Kaarma shot the unarmed teenager in April after he was alerted by motion sensors in his garage. Witnesses testified that Kaarma fired four times.

Defense attorneys argued Montana law allowed the 30-year-old Kaarma to use deadly force to defend his home.